The
house lights go out and a slide is projected against a scrim.It reads:"STAN
STARBURST . . . BEYOND THE STRATOSPHERE!!!"Wagner’s Prelude To Act III of LOHENGRIN is played as a new slide is
projected, which reads:"CHAPTER 1. INVASION FROM OUTER SPACE."The slide dims out, and a few pieces of two-dimensional makeshift scenery
are brought on to indicate the outdoors.A
couple of plywood trees will do.

The
sets, props and costumes for this show should reflect the penny-pinching
ingenuity of the old Saturday morning serial.Very little money should be spent, but each cent should be spent wisely.

SCENE
ONE:LOOKOUT POINT

Lights
come up softly.It's a warm summer
night at Lookout Point, a spot for young lovers.Offstage, a car comes to a halt and two people get out.Enter STAN STARBURST and BETTY COLLINS.Both are dressed in white.

STAN

Here
we are, Betty.Lookout Point!

BETTY

Oh
Stan!

STAN

This
is probably my favorite spot on Earth.I
often come up here at night just to look up at the stars.

BETTY

The
stars!They're beautiful!

STAN

They’re
not half as beautiful as you are, Betty.

BETTY

You
don't mean that!You're just
flirting with me, Stan Starburst!All
the girls in my dorm warned me about you.

Please
what?Please capture the universe
and lay it at your feet?I'd gladly
do that for you.

BETTY

You're
just saying that!

STAN

I
mean every word!How can I prove it
to you?
If all the stars in all the heavens were made of beauty instead of exploding
gases, they still couldn’t compete with you.

BETTY

Do
you rally mean that?

STAN

I
know I've got quite a reputation, and you probably think I've been around a lot
and things like that, but really, I'm just an ordinary, down-to-earth guy, . . .
and this is awfully hard for me to say, but . . .Betty, will you be my girl?

BETTY

Oh,
Stan!

She
kisses him.As they kiss, there's a
sharp whistling sound accompanied by a brilliant flash of light streaking across
the sky.STAN and BETTY look up.

STAN

Holy
cats!What was that?

BETTY

Just
a shooting star.

She
tries to pull him back for another kiss, but he's more interested in what he's
just seen.

STAN

Shooting
star nothing!That was a spaceship!

BETTY

Who
cares?

She
tries again, unsuccessfully, to pull him back for another kiss, but STAN spots
something!

STAN
pulls BETTY behind one of the trees.Enter
two aliens, CAPTAIN KURTORTZ AND KROZZ.

KURTORTZ

Here
we are, Krozz.The planet Earth!

Krozz
takes a long look at the landscape, before he eventually reacts.

KROZZ

Yecchh!

KURTORTZ

You
don’t care for it?

KROZZ

You’ve
seen one backwards planet, you’ve seen them all.

KURTORTZ

I
think Emperor Korax will be pleased with it.Look down at that valley.How
peaceful it looks.How quiet and
still.Hundreds of Earth-people lie
sleeping there, little dreaming that by this time tomorrow, they will all be
slaves.

KROZZ

It
will be a great victory for us, Captain Kurtortz.

KURTORTZ

Yes,
it will.All appears in readiness
for the invasion.Let us return to
Yorong and report to Emperor Korax.

STAN

Holy
cats!We can't let them get away
with that!

STAN
leaps out from behind the tree and grapples with KURTORTZ and KROZZ.

KURTORTZ

What's
this?An Earthman!

STAN

Quick,
Betty!Run for help!

BETTY
tries to run offstage, but KURTORTZ breaks away from STAN and grabs her.He puts a ray gun to her head.She
screams in terror.

KURTORTZ

Hold
it, Earthman!Put up your hands or
the Earthwoman dies!

STAN

Betty!

STAN
puts up his hands and surrenders.

KROZZ

What
shall we do with them, Captain?

KURTORTZ

We
can't leave them here.Come!We must take them back to Yorong!Emperor
Korax will decide their fate!

STAN

Holy
cats!

Exit
STAN, BETTY, KURTORTZ and KROZZ.The
trees are removed.

SCENE
TWO:KORAX'S THRONE ROOM

The
curtain opens on one of the two main sets used in the play:the throne room of KORAX, Emperor of Yorong.Upstage center is the Imperial Throne.To the immediate right and left are two large picture windows.A distant mountain can be seen through the stage left window.There are also two secret entrances (e.g., sliding panels) leading to two
separate secret passageways.These
will be very important later on.

As
the curtain opens, seated on his throne is KORAX - the cruelest tyrant in the
entire universe.Standing to his
right is KLONG, the Captain of the Palace Guard.An exotic dancer is performing for KORAX, who eyes her lustfully.She dances to Wagner’s Prelude To Act III of LOHENGRIN.The dance comes to an end.

KORAX

That
was an excellent performance my dear.You
have pleased your emperor.Come to
my private chambers this evening, and I shall show you my gratitude.

DANCER

No!I mean, . . . It is I who should be grateful to you.

KORAX

Very
well.Come to my private chambers
this evening, and you may show me your gratitude.

DANCER

As
you wish, your Imperial Radiance.

The
DANCER bows low and exits.

KORAX

Klong!Send in my jester!

KLONG

Yes,
your Imperial Radiance!

KLONG
exits, and returns a moment later with the Imperial JESTER, another beautiful
woman.

KORAX

Begin!Entertain me!

JESTER

Here?In front of Klong???

KORAX

I
mean, tell me a joke.After all,
you are the Imperial Jester.

JESTER

Oh.Right.I was telling my
friend yesterday

about
my pet janthub.I told him, “I
have a janthub without a nose!”And
he said, “A
janthub without a nose!How does he
smell?”

And
I said, “Horrible!”

KORAX

That
was an excellent joke my dear.You
have pleased your emperor.Come to
my private chambers this evening, late this evening, and I shall show you my
gratitude.

JESTER

That’s
all right.I know it wasn’t that
good
a joke.

KORAX

It
was good enough for me!Come to my
chambers!

JESTER

As
you wish, your Imperial Radiance.

The
JESTER bows low and exits.

KORAX

Klong!

KLONG

Yes,
your Imperial Radiance?

KORAX

Has
the reconnaissance mission returned from the Earth?

KLONG

Not
yet, your Imperial Radiance.

KORAX

They
are late!

KLONG

Yes,
your Imperial Radiance.

KORAX

Why
are they late?

KLONG

Why?I don't know why, your Imperial Radiance.

KORAX

Why
don't you know why?I will tell you
why.It is because you are
incompetent, my dear Klong.

KLONG

Yes,
your Imperial Radiance.

KORAX

I
am surrounded by incompetence.Am I
not Korax, supreme ruler of this planet Yorong and all other worlds in this
galaxy?Is not my power absolute?Is not my imperial word law?

Only
twelve could be found, your Imperial Radiance.The people have been so docile lately.

KORAX

I
must raise the taxes again.

There
is a loud pounding on the door offstage!

KORAX

Docile,
you say?Who dares disturb the
Emperor's peace?

KLONG
runs offstage, then quickly returns.

KLONG

It
is your sister, Kora, the High Priestess of the Bloodwomen of Krantz!Would you like to see her?

KORAX

I
would like to see her thrown to the Gorag Monster!But send her in.This
time I shall put an end to her foolish demands for once and for all!

KLONG

Yes,
your Imperial –

But
before he can finish speaking, KORA strides in.

KORA

How
long will you keep me waiting, brother?

KORAX

Silence,
woman!How dare you show disrespect
to your Imperial Ruler?

KLONG
exits discreetly.

KORA

I
worship a greater ruler than you, Korax!One
whose power is beyond that of any mortal – Kaila, the Goddess of Death!

KORAX

I
have told you, I want the Earth-people for my slaves!

KORA

And
I have told you!Kaila wants them
sacrificed!She must have their
blood!

KORAX

Sister,
you are a fool.Ever since our
scientists discovered the planet Earth, I have dreamed of its conquest.I have longed for the day when every Earthman would slave and sweat for
me.Now that that time is nearly at
hand, do you dare to imagine I will turn all my potential slaves into useless
rotting corpses, just so that you may drain their blood?Never!They shall work for
my empire!

KORA

Their
work will do you little good without Kaila's blessing.Thing of the pleasure we can give her by bathing an entire planet in
blood!It is a goddess's dream!

KORAX

No!My slaves shall not die for the sake of some powerless deity!

KORA

Powerless!This is sacrilege!

KORAX

They
shall work for me!They shall toil
for Korax!

Enter
KLONG.

KLONG

We
have established contact with the returning solarship, your Imperial Radiance.

KORAX

Good.Bring in the radiosoniscope at once.

KLONG

Yes,
your Imperial Radiance!

KLONG
exits.

KORAX

Soon
my invasion will begin!

KORA

It
will never succeed unless you pay homage to Kaila!

KLONG
enters with the radiosoniscope.

KLONG

Here
is the radiosoniscope, your Imperial Radiance.

KORAX

Turn
it on!

KLONG
turns a knob on the radiosoniscope, and after a moment of static, we hear the
voice of CAPTAIN KURTORTZ.

I
managed to escape with one of my crewmen in an emergo-sled, your Imperial
Radiance.We got out just before
the crash.

KORAX

And
the others?

KURTORTZ

(over
the radiosoniscope)

The
rest of the crew perished.The only
other survivors were the Earthman and the Earthwoman who got to an emergo-sled
just before we did.

KORAX

What????

KURTORTZ

(over
the radiosoniscope)

I
can see them flying just below us.They're
going to make a crash landing!

KORAX

Find
them!Find them and kill them!

KURTORTZ

(over
the radiosoniscope)

But
your Imperial Radiance. . . they're landing in the Great Garovian Swamp, the
realm of the Alligator-Men!

KORAX

Find
them, I say!Find them and kill
them at once!

KURTORTZ

(over
the radiosoniscope)

Yes,
your Imperial Radiance.Over and
out.

KLONG
exits with the radiosoniscope.

KORA

But
what of Kaila?You said they would
be sacrificed to Kaila!You
promised!

KORAX

Silence!It is my wish that they be killed now, and my wishes must be obeyed!

KORA

You
will regret this, brother!

KORA
exits.

KORAX

I
regret nothing!Ever!I will soon be the
absoluteruler of the entire
universe!!!!

Blackout
and curtain!

SCENE
THREE:THE GREAT GAROVIAN SWAMP

Some
trees, vines and shrubs are brought on to suggest a swamp.As the lights come up, there's the sound of an emergo-sled crashing
offstage.A moment later, STAN and
BETTY enter.Their clothes are
torn.

STAN

Are
you all right, Betty?

BETTY

I
think so.

STAN

I'm
afraid I haven't had much experience landing rocketships.

BETTY

Where
are we?

STAN

I'm
not exactly sure, but I think we're on another planet!

BETTY

Oh,
Stan, I'm frightened.

STAN

Steady,
Betty.I'll get us out of this
somehow.

BETTY

Stan!Someone's coming!

STAN

Quick!Let's hide!

STAN
and BETTY hide behind the trees as KROZZ and KURTORTZ enter.

KROZZ

I
don't see any sign of them, Captain.

KURTORTZ

Keep
looking, Krozz.They can't have
gone far.

KROZZ

Do
you think maybe the Alligator-Men got them?

KURTORTZ

I
hope not, Krozz.That's too
horrible a fate to wish on anyone, even the Earthlings!

KROZZ

Do
we have to keep searching, Captain?

KURTORTZ

You
heard Korax's orders.We have no
choice?

KROZZ

But
what if the Alligator-Men attack us?

KURTORTZ
thinks this over for a moment.

KURTORTZ

Let's
go look for the Earthlings a little closer to our emergo-sled.

Exit
KURTORTZ and KROZZ.STAN and BETTY
emerge from their hiding places.

BETTY

Did
you hear that?Alligator-Men!

STAN

It
sounds dangerous, all right.We'd
better find a way out of this swamp!

STAN
and BETTY start to exit, and walk right into two ALLIGATOR-MEN.(The ALLIGATOR-MEN are actors in green tights and leotards who are
vaguely made up to look something like alligators.)

STAN

Holy
cats!

STAN
fights valiantly, but he is no match for the ALLIGATOR-MEN, who drag STAN and
BETTY offstage.Blackout!The scenery is removed.

SCENE
FOUR:TOG'S CAVE

The
curtain opens to reveal a large cave.The
cave set will be used for four different cave locations during the play, with
various modifications each time.There
must be a movable section of the cave that can be used as the entrance to a
secret passageway in a later scene (when the cave represents another location).

Right
now, the setting is TOG's secret laboratory.Scientific equipment is scattered throughout the cave, along with four
ray guns.At the back of the cave
stands a large box, big enough for Stan to fit into.The box should have lights and dials and switches on it.

In
the midst of all this stands TOG, a strange little man from the planet Tangor.He should have some obvious physical oddity (such as cat-like whiskers)
which distinguishes him from the Earthlings and the Yorongians.TOG is along in his cave, tinkering with his scientific equipment, when
the ALLIGATOR-MEN drag in STAN and BETTY.

TOG

Greetings!Welcome to my cave.

STAN

We'd
feel more welcome if these monsters would let go of us.

TOG

First
I must ask you two very important questions.The first question is -- Are you working for Korax?

BETTY

No!

STAN

Of
course not.

TOG

Very
well.The second question is –
Are you absolutely sure you're not working for Korax?

STAN

We're
fighting against Korax.

TOG

Wonderful!Release them, my pets.

The
ALLIGATOR-MEN release STAN and BETTY.TOG
reaches into his pocket and gives each of them a treat.He pats them on the head and they exit.

STAN

Pets?

TOG

Yes,
I trained them.These are friendly
Alligator-Men.Not like the nasty,
vicious, bloodthirsty, unfriendly Alligator-Men you often find around here.You wouldn't want to run into them.

BETTY

Who
are you?

TOG

My
name is Togilatog Togo Togtogatog, but you may call me Tog.

TOG
shakes hands with STAN and BETTY.

TOG

I
am Korax's greatest enemy.

STAN

Oh?

TOG

If
you'd like, we could all be his greatest enemies now.

BETTY

Are
you from this planet?

TOG

No,
I am a native of the planet Tangor.

STAN

What
are you doing here?

TOG

One
day, six years ago, I set out from Tangor with a crew of twenty to explore the
vast reaches of the Universe.Unfortunately,
our astro-navigatronometer had a slight defect.We couldn't turn it on.We
ended up on this miserable planet – Yorong, the gunk under the corner of the
big toenail of the Universe!We
asked Emperor Korax for help, but as soon as he saw our thorcon-powered
zeebitzers, he mercilessly slaughtered my entire crew.

BETTY

How
horrible!

TOG

Yes,
it's shocking what some people will do for a zeebitzer.I alone escaped the carnage.I
fled to this swamp where I made my home.My
only companions have been the Alligator-Men I caught and tamed.But soon I will have my revenge!I've
been building weapons and training an army of Alligator-Men to assault Korax's
palace and kill his guards and grab Korax and cut off his head and tear out his
heart and burn his entrails and jump up and down on his corpse, and then at last
peace will come to this poor, unhappy planet.

BETTY

What
a sad story.You must be very
lonely.

TOG

I
am!But I have my memories of
Tangor.It's a beautiful world.Perhaps the most beautiful world in all the universe.

STAN

Our
planet isn't so bad either.We're
from Earth!

TOG

Earth!You mean the third planet from the sun?But how did you . . .

STAN

Korax
plans to invade it!We were taken
prisoner by some of his spies and brought here.We just managed to escape.

TOG

I
see.What are your names?

STAN

I'm
Stan Starburst and this is Betty Collins.

BETTY

How
do you do?

TOG

I'm
delighted to make your acquaintance.Can
I get you anything?I've built
machines to provide me with everything I need.

STAN

We
could use some new clothes.The got
pretty torn up when we crash landed.

TOG

I
do have a clothesatron, but I'm afraid it is only designed to produce clothing
for the male gender.I take it
Betty is female.

BETTY

Yes,
I'm a girl.

TOG

I
thought so.But the universe is a
complicated place, and sometimes it's best to ask and make certain.Now if you will just step this way Mr. Starburst . . .

TOG
leads STAN to the box upstage.

STAN

Please,
call me Stan.

TOG

Just
step in here, Stan, and we'll see what we can do.

STAND
steps into the clothesatron.The
door is closed, and the lights blink on and off, as STAN changes his costume.

TOG

He
looks good in white, don't you think.

BETTY

It's
his favorite color.

TOG

I'm
sorry I don't have a clothesatron for you, but you shouldn't worry.Shredded apparel is considered very fashionable for beautiful young women
in this part of the galaxy.

BETTY

Oh?

TOG

Absolutely,
Miss Collins

BETTY

Please
call me Betty.

There's
a strange sound from the clothesatron, indicating its job is completed.STAN leaps out in a brand new costume, something suitably heroic.

BETTY

Oh
Stan!

STAN

Not
bad, huh?Thanks Tog!

TOG

You're
welcome.Now we'd better get down
to the business of defeating Korax!

BETTY

How
can we do that?

TOG

Fortunately,
most of the weapons I've been working on are now completed!

TOG
shows STAN and BETTY each of his weapons as he describes them.

TOG

Here's
a handy little item.A Tangorian
electarode.When you fire it on
your enemy, it builds up the pressure in his cardio-vascular system until he
explodes!Boom!Very messy.Here's a
spectra-ray.It dissolves flesh,
leaving only internal organs and bones.Nearly
as messy as the electarode.This
one is a frazomer gun.Very
reliable, but I wouldn't want to discuss its effects with a lady present.

BETTY

Hey!If I can hear about the electarode and the spectra-ray, I think I can
handle a frazomer gun.

TOG
whispers in STAN's ear.STAN looks
ill.

STAN

Betty,
I think you should trust Tog on this one.

TOG

And
finally, for the more squeamish, we have the biyoto-beam.All it does is reduce your mental capacity to that of a lobotomized
ameba.Which one would you like to
take?

I
was afraid something like this might happen some day, so I installed bobby traps
in all my weapons.Unless you first
release the secret safety catches, they self-destruct, emitting a powerful
knockout gas!

STAN

Gosh,
Tog, that was brilliant!

Enter
two ALLIGATOR-MEN.

BETTY

Look,
Tog, here come some of your Alligator-Men!

TOG

Oh
no!

STAN

What
is it?

TOG

Those
aren't my Alligator-Men!Those are
the savage, untamed Alligator-Men!They've
discovered my cave at last, and without my weapons to defend us, we're doomed!Doomed!

Blackout
and curtain, followed by a reprise of Wagner’s Prelude To Act III of LOHENGRIN.

A
slide is projected which reads:"CHAPTER
3.IN THE CLUTCHES OF KORAX!"

The
slide dims out and the curtain opens, and once again everything is the same as
it was a moment ago.KURTORTZ and
KROZZ have just been knocked unconscious.

STAN

Gosh,
Tog, that was brilliant!

Enter
two ALLIGATOR-MEN.

BETTY

Look,
Tog, here come some of your Alligator-Men!

TOG

Oh
no!

STAN

What
is it?

TOG

Those
aren't my Alligator-Men!Those are
the savage, untamed Alligator-Men!They've
discovered my cave at last, and without my weapons to defend us, we're doomed!Doomed!

STAN

Holy
cats!

The
savage, untamed ALLIGATOR-MEN surround STAN, TOG and BETTY.The situation looks hopeless.Betty
screams!Then STAN breaks through the ring of ALLIGATOR-MEN and makes
a flying leap to the bodies of KURTORTZ and KROZZ.He grabs the ray guns which the Yorongians had brought with
them, and fires at the ALLIGATOR-MEN who fall down dead.

BETTY

Oh
Stan, you saved us!

TOG

Good
work!

STAN

Lucky
for us, I remembered that Kurtortz and Krozz had brought these weapons with
them.

KURTORTZ
and KROZZ groan.

STAN

They're
coming to!

TOG

Keep
those ray-guns on them!

STAN

What
about your weapons, Tog?

TOG

Useless.Utterly useless now.They're
ruined.

BETTY

Don't
worry, Tog.You can build more
death rays.

KROZZ

Uhhh
. . . where am I?

STAN

Easy,
Krozz!You too, Kurtortz!I've got you covered!

KROZZ

What
happened?

STAN

You're
our prisoners now.You're going to
take us to Korax, and then we'll force him to call off his invasion of Earth!Come on, you two!On your feet!

KURTORTZ
and KROZZ rise, their hands held above their heads in surrender.

TOG

But
. . . going to Korax . . .with all his soldiers . . . and without my weapons!It will be like walking straight into the jaws of death!

STAN

That's
a chance we'll just have to take.

TOG

But
it isn't a chance.A chance is when
you actually have a chance.We'll
be outnumbered a hundred to one.

STAN

But
don't forget, we'll be taking them by surprise.

TOG

That's
right.In that case, let's go!

KURTORTZ
and KROZZ exit, followed by STAN, BETTY and TOG.Blackout and curtain.

SCENE
FIVE:KORAX'S THRONE ROOM

The
curtain opens on KORAX's throne room, with KORAX seated on his throne.Enter KLONG.

KORAX

Yes,
Klong.What is it now?

KLONG

Captain
Kurtortz is outside with one of his men and three others whom I do not
recognize.

KORAX

Strangers!Do you have any idea whom they might be?

KLONG

One
of them resembles the Tangorians we killed six years ago.

KORAX

The
Tangorians, eh?Hmmmm.Bring them in, but be on your guard.

KLONG

Yes,
your Imperial Radiance.

Exit
KLONG.He re-enters with KURTORTZ,
KROZZ, STAN, BETTY and TOG.

KORAX

Yes?

KURTORTZ
and KROZZ kneel before KORAX

KUTORTZ
& KROZZ

Your
Imperial Radiance.

STAN
leaps to the throne and aims his ray gun directly at KORAX's head.TOG takes out the other ray gun and aims it at KURTORTZ, KROZZ and KLONG.

STAN

All
right, nobody moves, or your Emperor gets his imperial head blown off!

KORAX

So,
it is the Earthman!I had suspected
as much.

STAN

Listen
to me, Korax!First, you'll call
off your invasion of the Earth!Second,
you abdicated the throne after issuing a final proclamation that from now on
Yorong will be a democracy, with freedom and justice and capitalism for all.Either you do all that, or I'll blow you to bits.

KORAX

That
will not be necessary!

KORAX
presses a button concealed on his throne – in a move which is very obvious to
the audience – and a net drops on STAN.Alternatively,
KORAX may use a senses-stunning somnia-gun which was concealed in the cushions
of his throne.In any case, he
turns the tables on STAN.KURTORTZ grabs Stan's gun, and in the excitement, KROZZ is
able to grab Tog's gun.Both our
heroes are now disarmed.

STAN

Holy
cats!

KURTORTZ

Don't
move, Earthman!

KORAX

Where
are your threats now, Stan Starburst?

STAN

I'm
not finished yet!You'll see.

Enter
KORA.

KORA

I
see you have finally captured the Earthlings.When will they be sacrificed?

BETTY

Stan!

BETTY
runs to STAN and he holds her protectively.

KORA

Well,
brother?

KORAX

Never!

KORA

What?

KORAX

I
have changed my mind.They will be
more useful to me as slaves.I have
need of slaves now to help me prepare for my invasion!

KORA

At
least let me have the girl.Surely
such a frail looking specimen could be of little use as a slave.

KORAX

No.The Earthgirl interests me.She
shall remain here, with me.

BETTY

Stan!

STAN

Steady,
Betty.I won't let them hurt you!

KORAX

I
have no intention of hurting her, Earthman.I have something much friendly in mind.

STAN

If
you touch one hair on her head, I swear I'll . . .

KORAX

You
will do nothing, Earthman.There is
nothing you can do!

TOG

What
about me, Korax?

KORAX

I
have not forgotten you.You are
from the planet Tangor, are you not?One
of the visitors we had some years ago.

TOG

The
only one to escape your maniacal slaughter, you filthy blackguard.

KORAX

You
deserve to die for you insolence, but I will spare your unworthy life.

TOG

I
won't spare yours, you base villain.

KORAX

You
and the Earthman shall be my slaves.You
will package the amnesium I need for my invasion!

Long
enough to see you get your just desserts, you foul, loathsome, despicable,
diabolical fiend!

KORAX

Take
them away!

BETTY

Stan!

KURTORTZ
and KROZZ take hold of STAN and TOG.

STAN

You
. . . you . . . you . . .big jerk!

STAN
breaks free from KURTORTZ and KROZZ and hurls himself at Korax.KORAX takes a gay gun out of the folds of his imperial robe and shoots
STAN, who falls unconscious to the floor.

KORAX

The
fool.

BETTY
weeps.

KORA

Is
he . . .

KORAX

No,
he is not dead . . .yet.That was merely a senses-stunning somnia gun.He will soon regain consciousness.Take
him and the Tangorian down to the amnesium vaults and put them to work.Keep them at it until their minds are completely destroyed!

KURTORTZ

Yes,
your imperial radiance!

KURTORTZ
and KROZZ take STAN and TOG from the room.BETTY continues to weep.The
curtain closes.

SCENE
SIX:THE AMNESIUM VAULTS

In
the darkness, we hear the work chant of the SLAVES.It grows louder.

SLAVES

(chanting)

HEAVE-HO!HEAVE-HO!

HEAVE
A TON OF AMNESIUM!

HEAVE-HO!

The
lights come up on the amnesium vaults.Except
for a small platform downstage left, the vaults are bathed in red light.The downstage left platform represents an area which is shielded from the
amnesium rays.As the crimson light
comes up, we see STAN and TOG standing in a pile of red amnesium center stage.The SLAVES cross the stage, pushing carts, which STAN and TOG fill with
amnesium.The work chant continues
softly throughout the scene, becoming louder whenever there is a break in the
dialogue.STAN and TOG whisper to
each other furtively as the SLAVES chant:

SLAVES

(chanting)

HEAVE-HO!HEAVE-HO!

HEAVE
A TON OF AMNESIUM!

HEAVE-HO!

STAN
and TOG stop whispering and speak in their normal voices.

STAN

Holy
cats!What are we going to do?

TOG

We
must concentrate!Keep our memories
intact for as long as we can.Think!Concentrate!Remember!

STAN

Yes!Think!Concentrate!What was that other think you said?

TOG

Remember!!!Think!Concentrate!Remember!

STAN

Right!Think!Concentrate!Remember!

TOG

Yes!We must!For Betty's sake!

STAN

Yes!We must!Who's Betty?

TOG

You
remember!Betty Collins, your girl
friend!

STAN

Oh
yes!Betty!What about her?

TOG

I've
forgotten.

SLAVES

(chanting)

HEAVE-HO!HEAVE-HO!

HEAVE
A TON OF AMNESIUM!

HEAVE-HO!

TOG

Think!Concentrate!Remember!

STAN

Think!Concentrate!December!

TOG

Link!Conjugate!Dismember!

STAN

Drink!Consummate!Whatever!

TOG

What
did you just say?

STAN

I
forget.

SLAVES

(chanting)

HEAVE-HO!HEAVE-HO!

HEAVE
A TON OF AMNESIUM!

HEAVE-HO!

KORAX,
BETTY AND KLONG enter the small platform stage left, unobserved by STAN and TOG.Betty weeps, while KORAX gleefully watches STAN and TOG.

STAN

What
are we doing here?

TOG

Our
predicament has something to do with a person named Korax, I believe.Does that name sound familiar?

STAN

Is
that my girl friend?

TOG

No,
you girl friend's name is Betty!I
told you that.

STAN

Maybe
Korax is your girl friend.

TOG

(losing
his temper)

I
haven't got a girl friend!!!

STAN

With
a temper like that, I can see why.

KORAX

Listen
to them!They are already
forgetting everything!

BETTY

Stop
it!Stop it!Why did you make me come here?

KORAX

I
had hoped you might find it amusing.

BETTY
can only weep.

KORAX

You
needn't worry, my dear.They can't
see us, and we are shielded from the amnesium rays.

BETTY

Oh
Stan!Stan!

She
continues to weep.

SLAVES

(chanting)

HEAVE-HO!HEAVE-HO!

HEAVE
A TON OF AMNESIUM!

HEAVE-HO!

STAN

What
are we supposed to be doing with all this red stuff and these carts?

TOG

We're
probably taking it off the ground and putting it into the carts, unless we're
taking it out of the carts and putting it onto the ground.I can't remember which.

TOG

I
suspect this substance may be hurting our memories.We've got to keep remembering!

STAN

Remembering
what?

Pause
while TOG thinks.

STAN

Well?

TOG

I'm
trying to remember.

STAN

Remember
what?

TOG

I'm
trying to remember what your question was.

STAN

I
can't remember it either.

TOG

Well
then, it can't have been very important.

STAN

What
can't?

TOG

What
can't what?

STAN

What???

KORAX

Bah!It has gone so far that they cannot even do their jobs!They are useless to me as slaves!I
may as well turn them over to Kora now.Yes!That is precisely what I shall do.Klong!

KLONG

Yes,
your imperial radiance?

KORAX

Have
the guards take the Earthman and the Tangorian to Kora to be sacrificed.

KLONG

Yes,
your imperial radiance.

Exit
KLONG.

BETTY

How
can you be so cruel?You're utterly
heartless!

KORAX

Not
utterly heartless, my dear.

BETTY

What
do you mean?

KORAX

Surely
you have noticed that I find you attractive.

BETTY

Yes.

KORAX

You
are beautiful, Earthwoman!More
beautiful than anyone I have ever seen!Say
yes to me, and I will make you Empress of half the universe!

A
GUARD comes on from stage right and leads STAN and TOG offstage.

BETTY

No!How can you!When you're about to kill the man I love!

KORAX

The
Earthman?How can he compare with
what I have to offer you?Nevertheless,
I might be prepared to spare his unworthy life if you will consent to be my
bride.

BETTY

No!Never!Not for anything!

KORAX

Very
well then.Prepare to witness his
death!

Blackout!Everything from the amnesium vault set is removed.

SCENE
SEVEN:THE UNDERGROUND TEMPLE OF
KAILA

The
curtain opens on the all-purpose cave set, which is not the Sacred Temple of the
BLOODWOMEN OF KRANTZ, worshippers of KAILA The Goddess Of Death!Downstage is a sacrificial alter, and upstage is a large graven image of
KAILA.KORAX, BETTY and KLONG
are standing to one side as the curtain opens.They await the entrance of the BLOODWOMEN.

KORA
enters with two BLOODWOMEN, who lead in STAN and TOG.STAN and TOG meekly lie down on the sacrificial alter and the
BLOODWOMEN put bowls down under their necks to catch their blood.

1ST BLOODWOMAN

Kaila
is a loving goddess!

KORA

She
loves bloodsacrifices.

2ND BLOODWOMAN

But
Kaila is not a butcher!

KORA

Kaila
leaves butchery to us.

KORA

We
kill these worthless aliens so that Kaila may have their blood!Let the sacrificial music begin!!!

There
is a brief sacrificial dance to the tune of Wagner’s Prelude to Act III of
LOHENGRIN.

The
BLOODWOMEN lift their axes and are about to lower them onto the throats of our
heroes.At the last moment, BETTY
screams out:

BETTY

Stop!Please stop!I'll marry you, Korax.Only
don't kill Stan!

KORAX

A
wise decision, Earthwoman.Stop the
sacrifice!

KORA

Korax,
this is insufferable!

KORAX

Klong!Go and prepare the Earthwoman for our wedding.The ceremony will begin at once!

KLONG
starts to lead BETTY off, but she stops.

BETTY

Korax,
promise me you won't harm Stanley.

KORAX

You
have my word.

BETTY

Thank
you.

BETTY
and KLONG exit.KORAX waits a
moment.

KORAX

Let
the sacrifice continue.

KORAX
exits.KORA is dumbfounded, then
overjoyed.She has KORAX's approval
for the sacrifice, and nothing can stop her now.But before they can slice open the throats of our heroes, there's a
blackout and curtain!A slide is
projected which reads:"TO BE
CONTINUED . . . "Wagner’s
Prelude to Act III of LOHENGRIN is played as the house lights come up.

The
house lights go out and Wagner’s Prelude to Act III of LOHENGRIN comes up
grandly.A slide is projected.This one reads:"CHAPTER 4.THE
WALLS OF DOOM!"The slide dims
out, and the curtain opens on the scared temple of the Bloodwomen of Krantz.The last few minutes of Act I are re-enacted.

BETTY
and KLONG exit.KORAX waits a
moment.

KORAX

Let
the sacrifice continue.

KORAX
exits.KORA is dumbfounded, then
overjoyed.She has KORAX's approval
for the sacrifice, and nothing can stop her now.But before the BLOODWOMEN can slice open the throats of our heroes, STAN
and TOG grab the axes by the handles and save themselves.They jump up and use the axes to ward off their would-be executioners.

KORA

What
is this?Your minds were destroyed!

STAN

No
they weren't!

TOG

We
just faked our mindlessness for the benefit of Korax, so he'd take us out of the
mines.Actually, a healthy,
intelligent, clean-thinking mind can withstand amnesium exposure for up to . . .
for up to . . .Stan, how
long did I say a healthy, intelligent, clean-thinking mind could withstand
amnesium –

STAN

It
doesn't matter!We've got to stop
that wedding!

STAN
and TOG run offstage!

KORA

You
cannot leave!The sacrifice must
continue!After them!

The
BLOODWOMEN chase after STAN and TOG as the curtain closes.Blackout.

SCENE
EIGHT:A FOREST ON YORONG

A
few trees are brought on to suggest a forest.Enter STAN and TOG.They've
discarded their axes.

STAN

Which
way to Korax's palace?We've got to
stop that wedding!What if we're
too late?What if she's already
married?

TOG

Don't
worry.Maybe she can get a divorce.Lots of worlds are very lenient about granting divorces in cases of
emperors forcing wedlock under threat of killing the bride's boy friend.

Before
Stand can respond, there is the sound of a solarship landing comes from
offstage.

TOG

Listen!A solarship!

STAN

Quick!We'd better hide!

STAN
and TOG hide behind the trees as CAPTAIN KURTORTZ enters.He is dressed in a ceremonial costume, complete with cape, sword and
helmet.

KUTORTZ

Come
along, Krozz.The royal wedding
cannot begin until we return!

Enter
KROZZ, similarly costumed.

KROZZ

Yes
sir, Captain Kurtortz, but I wish we didn't have to do this.I don't like going to see those Bloodwomen.I just don't trust them.

KURTORTZ

Courage,
Krozz.I know how you feel.Those she-devils may be beautiful, but they're crueler than Korax
himself.But orders are orders!Korax will not begin the wedding ceremony until we bring him word that
Stan Starburst is dead!

KROZZ

Yes,
Captain.

KROZZ
and KURTORTZ are now standing directly in front of the trees where STAN and TOG
are hiding.STAN leans out.

STAN

Come
on, Tog!Let's get 'em!

STAN
and TOG grab KURTORTZ and KROZZ and pull them behind the trees.We hear the sounds of combat, then STAN and TOG emerge victorious.

STAN

Nice
work, Tog.

TOG

Nothing
to it.I used an ancient Tangorian
combat trick.I hit him on the head
with a rock.

STAN

Can
you pilot their solarship?

TOG

I
think so.

STAN

Great!You put on Krozz's uniform, and I'll put on Kurtortz's.We're going to pay Korax a visit!

Blackout.The forest set is removed.

SCENE
NINE:KORAX'S THRONE ROOM

The
curtain opens on the throne room, decorated for KORAX's wedding to BETTY.There are GUARDS and DANCING GIRLS in costume, celebrating.They dance to Wagner’s Prelude to Act III of LOHENGRIN.KORAX marches in, ceremoniously.The
music stops.

KORAX

Klong!

Enter
KLONG.

KLONG

Yes,
your Imperial Radiance?

KORAX

Has
there been any sign of Captain Kurtortz?

KLONG

No,
your Imperial Radiance.

KORAX

This
is the second time today he has kept me waiting.He shall pay for this!

Enter
STAN and TOG dressed as KURTORTZ and KROZZ.They keep their heads lowered and try not to look at anyone.They speak softly, trying to disguise their voices.

KORAX

So,
you have come at last, Captain Kurtortz!Why
have you kept me waiting?

STAN
and TOG bow low.

STAN

We
crave your mercy, your Imperial Radiance.

KORAX

Speak
up!I cannot hear you.

STAN

I
beg your imperial pardon.I'm a bit
hoarse today.

KORAX

You
were all right when you left the palace.

STAN

It's
something I've just come down with, your Imperial Radiance.

KORAX
turns to TOG.

KORAX

What
about you?

TOG

I
have also just become hoarse.

KORAX

What
of my orders?Have they been
obeyed?

STAN

The
Earthman has met his fate.

KORAX

Then
let the ceremonies commence!Start
the Imperial Wedding Music!

Wagner’s
Prelude to Act III of LOHENGRIN resumes as BETTY enters, wearing a Yorongian
wedding gown.The GUARDS line up in
two rows, forming an arch with their swords.STAN and TOG stand at the downstage end of the guards.BETTY marches miserably under the arched swords, until she gets to STAN
and TOG.

STAN

Psssssst!

BETTY
notices STAN and TOG.She can
scarcely conceal her joy as STAN whispers to her:

STAN

When
Korax comes under our swords, we'll let him have it!

BETTY
steps past STAN and TOG.KORAX
begins his march under the archway of swords.KORAX is about to step under STAN's and TOG's swords, when KURTORTZ and
KROZZ run in, dressed in their Yorongian underwear.

KURTORTZ

Halt!It's the Earthman and the Tangorian!

KORAX
steps back just in time to avoid the falling swords.

KORAX

Seize
them!

The
DANCING GIRLS run offstage screaming.STAN
and TOG fight with the GUARDS, and quickly disarm them.Now comes the big sword fight!TOG
guards KURTORTZ and KROZZ and the disarmed GUARDS, while STAN turns to face
KORAX, who has taken up one of the swords dropped by his GUARDS.

STAN

Now
for you, Korax!

KORAX

Earthman,
I salute you.Few men have the
honor of dying at the hands of an Emperor!

STAN

Sorry,
Korax, but I have other plans.

KORAX

Insolent
dog!I am the finest swordsman on
Yorong!

STAN

I
prefer to let my sword do my talking!

KORAX

Then
try to make it speak!

They
have at it!It's a marvelous sword
fight in the grand Hollywood tradition.For
a moment, STAN seems to be getting the upper hand, when suddenly KORAX pulls a
hidden dagger from his boot.He
almost stabs STAN, but our hero forces him to drop the dagger.

KORAX

I
almost had you that time, Earthman!

STAN

On
Earth we have a saying, Korax.A
miss is as good as a mile.

KORAX

Will
you have an appropriate saying when my sword strikes you dead?

The
fighting increases in intensity until STAN manages to knock the sword from
KORAX's hand!Stan has his sword at
Korax's throat.

KORAX

Do
you think my death will not stop Yorong's conquest of your planet?

STAN

Maybe
it won't stop it, but I bet it'll slow it down.

STAN
prepares to kill KORAX.

KURTORTZ

Don't
do it Earthman.If you harm our
leader, the pain of your torture will be unimaginable.

TOG

Why
should I let him live?

BETTY

I
think not being unimaginably tortured is a good reason.

KORAX

I
have a secret passageway leading from this room, for my escape from attack.If you spare my life, I will show you how to escape from this castle.

STAN

Where
is it?

KORAX

Here!You can lock the entrance from the inside so that no one may follow you.

KORAX
reveals a hidden entrance to a secret passageway.

STAN

I'm
probably making a big mistake, but I'm going to let you live, for now, while I
find a way to stop your invasion for good!Betty, Tog, let's go!

KURTORTZ
and KROZZ have been creeping up on STAN.They
start to rush him, but STAN and TOG throw their swords at them.As Kurtortz and KROZZ dodge the swords, STAN and TOG follow BETTY into
the passageway, and STAN slams the door shut behind them.KURTORTZ and KROZZ try to open the door, but it's locked.

KORAX

The
fools thinks they have escaped, but no one escapes from Korax!They are walking straight into my trap!Soon they will find themselves between the walls of doom!

Blackout
and curtain!

SCENE
TEN:BETWEEN THE WALLS OF DOOM

The
walls of doom are brought on.These
are two small sections of walls, with doors in them.They are on rollers, and are perpendicular to the audience.The walls of doom must move across the stage, so they should also have
sections of walls attached to them at right angles, to mask the people who will
push the walls together.

The
walls of doom start out at opposite sides of the stage.As the lights come up, STAN, BETTY and TOG enter through the door in the
stage left wall and slam it shut behind them.We hear the soft hum of machinery as the walls begin to move very slowly
together.

BETTY

What
do we do now?

STAN

We'll
had back to the Great Garovian Swamp and get Tog's friendly Alligator Men to
help us.

TOG

If
they can't help, no one can.They're
the strongest creatures on this planet, next to the Gorag Monster.

BETTY

What's
the Gorag Monster?

They've
crossed to the other door, but it's locked!

STAN

It's
locked!Quick!Back to the other door!

They
run back, but it's locked too!

TOG

It's
locked too!

STAN

Holy
cats!We're trapped!

TOG

Is
it my imagination, or is this room getting smaller?

BETTY

The
walls!They're closing in on us!We'll all be crushed!

STAN

Steady,
Betty!We'll find a way out!

STAN
and TOG attempt to push against the walls, but they can't stop them.KORAX's voice comes over a loudspeaker.

KORAX

(over
a loudspeaker)

Hear
my words, Earthman!This is Korax!You have fallen into my trap!There
is no way you can escape!You are
doomed!

BETTY

No!

KORAX

(over
a loudspeaker)

Doomed!

The
walls close in on them!Blackout!

The
walls are removed as we hear Wagner’s Prelude to Act III of LOHENGRIN.A slide is projected which reads:"CHAPTER
5.ENTER THE ALUMINOIDS!"

STAN,
BETTY, TOG and the walls of doom take their places to re-enact the end of the
last chapter.The lights come us as
Korax's voice first comes over the loudspeaker.

KORAX

(over
a loudspeaker)

Hear
my words, Earthman!This is Korax!You have fallen into my trap!There
is no way you can escape!You are
doomed!

BETTY

No!

KORAX

(over
a loudspeaker)

Doomed!

The
walls close in on them!

TOG

If
we only had a frajistatz.

STAN

What's
a frajistatz?

TOG

It's
a green thing, about five inches long,

STAN

You
mean like this?

STAN
hands TOG a frajistatz.

TOG

A
frajistatz!

STAN

It
was in a pocket of Kurtortz's uniform!

The
walls are making the three of them very uncomfortable.

BETTY

What's
a frajistatz?

TOG

This
is a frajistatz!!!

BETTY

But
what does it do?

TOG

It's
a Yorongian key.If the energy
pattern of this frajistatz matches the energy pattern of this door. . .

TOG
pushes the frajistatz against the door, and the door opens, just in time!

TOG

It
works!

STAN,
TOG and BETTY tumble out through the open door as the walls of doom slam
together.Blackout!The walls are removed from the stage.

SCENE
ELEVEN:KORAX'S THRONE ROOM

The
curtain opens on the throne room.The
GUARDS have gone.KURTORTZ and
KROZZ are back in their normal uniforms, and are working on forcing open the
door to the secret passageway.KORAX
and KLONG wait.After a moment the
door to the secret passageway opens.

KURTORTZ

We've
forced open the entrance!

KORAX

My
walls of doom must have crushed them by now.Klong!Go and scrape up the
remains of my unfortunate enemies.

The
sacrifices have escaped from the temple!We
must get them back or Kaila will be furious!

KORAX

They
are beyond your fumbling grasp, my sister.I have done what you could not!I
have crushed them to a pulp!They
are finished!

KLONG
enters.

KLONG

Your
Imperial Radiance, the chamber is empty!They
have escaped!

KORAX

What???

KLONG

They
must have found a frajistatz!

KORA

Where
are they?

KLONG

The
passageway leads to our solarship planet-port field.

KORAX

If
they reach the field, the Tangorian will be able to pilot one of the smaller
ships and they will escape!

KURTORTZ

We'll
stop them, your Imperial Radiance!

KURTORTZ,
KROZZ and KLONG start to run into the secret passageway, but KORAX stops them.

KORAX

Kurtortz!Let me inquire, before you leave, have you got your frajistatz with you?

Kurtortz
pats down his uniform, and is embarrassed to find he doesn't have his frajistatz.

KURTORTZ

No.I must have left it in my ceremonial uniform!

KORAX

You
may borrow mine, unless you wish to be crushed by the walls of doom!

KORAX
hands KURTORTZ his frajistatz.

KURTORTZ

Thank
you, your Imperial Radiance.You
saved my life.

KORAX

Your
life means nothing to me!But I
need you to stop the Earthman from escaping.

KURTORTZ

I'll
do it!Come along, Krozz!

KURTORTZ
and KROZZ run out through the secret passageway.

KORAX

Follow
them, Klong, and report back to me.

KLONG
follows KURTORTZ and KROZZ down the passageway.

KORAX

That
Kurtortz is a fool.Only the most
demented of imbeciles would run down an imperial secret passageway without his
frajistatz.

KORA
starts to head down the passageway.

KORAX

Where
do you think you are going?

KORA

Don't
worry, I have my frajistatz.

KORA

Do
not interfere with my plans, sister!.You
have already allowed my enemies to escape once.

KORAX

And
your Captain Kurtortz has allowed them to escape four times!I tell you, Kaila will have their blood!

KORAX

This
is my affair!You had best stay out
of it!

KORA

I
will follow them in my own solarship if necessary!You cannot stop me!

She
exits into the secret passageway.

KORAX

Go then!And may your ship crash into the

Great Hydrochloric Sea!

KLONG
enters from the secret passageway.

KLONG

Your
Imperial Radiance!

KORAX

What
is it Klong?

KLONG

The
Earthlings and the Tangorian took off in a Starline Rocketron.Look!There it is!

KORAX
and KLONG look through a window (the same window through which they saw the
rocketship in Scene 2).A toy
rocketship on a thread travels across the sky.

KLONG

And there goes Captain Kurtortz in hot pursuit!

Another
toy rocketship on a thread travels across the sky.

KORAX

Excellent!He has taken a Cobalite Comet
Cruiser.The Earthman is doomed.

A
third toy rocketship on a thread appears.

KLONG

A
third ship!It must be your sister!

KORAX

That
meddling fool is flying a Hyper-Helo Ship!

KLONG

The
ships are flying awfully close, your Imperial
Radiance!

The
toys crash into each other.The
threads are released, and the toys fall to the floor (out of view of the
windows).

KLONG

All
three ships crashed!No one could
have survived!

KORAX

I
believe I have heard those words before.But
it doesn't matter if they survive or not.They cannot possibly interfere with my plans now!Come, Klong!I shall give my astro-troops the command for take-off!The invasion of Earth begins at once!

KORAX
and KLONG exit.Blackout.

SCENE
TWELVE:INTERIOR OF A CAVE IN THE
DESERT

This
scene also uses the cave set.This
time, it's a cave in the Great Northern Deserts of Golumph.This time there is no scientific equipment (as there was in Tog's cave)
or a graven idol (as there was in Kaila's Temple).This time, there is a pile of rocks upstage left, which represents the
rim of a crater filled with boiling aluminite.

STAN,
BETTY and TOG enter, staggering.

STAN

Holy
cats, that was close.

TOG

I'll
never know how we managed to survive that crash.

BETTY

Let's
just be thankful we did.

TOG

And
it was fortunate we crashed so close to this cave.The desert heat was blistering.

Stop!She may be a sadistic, bloodthirsty, murdering heathen, but she is a
woman!I can't let you kill her in
cold blood!

ALUMINOIDS

You...cannot...stop...us....

STAN

Maybe
not, but I can try!Listen to me!You think you're incapable of making mistakes!But if you were perfect, you wouldn't allow intruders to get into your
lair in the first place.So you
made a mistake.

The
ALUMINOIDS let go of KORA and attack STAN.STAN fights valiantly, but he is no match for the ALUMINOIDS.

BETTY

Help
him!Why don't you help him!

KURTORTZ

It's
no use!The Aluminoids have
incredible strength!

TOG

I'll
help!

TOG
tries to help, but he is immediately knocked unconscious by an ALUMINOID.Furious, STAN knocks the ALUMINOID (the one who hit TOG) into the crater.STAN and the remaining ALUMINOID struggle at the edge of the crater,
until they both fall in! BETTY
screams!

Blackout,
curtain and Wagner’s Prelude to Act III of LOHENGRIN!A slide is projected which reads:"CHAPTER 6.THE
KING OF THE ALUMINOIDS!"

The
slide goes out, the curtain opens, and the end of the scene is re-enacted.

TOG

I'll
help!

TOG
tries to help, but he is immediately knocked unconscious by an ALUMINOID.Furious, STAN knocks the ALUMINOID (the one who hit TOG) into the crater.STAN and the remaining ALUMINOID struggle at the edge of the crater,
until they both fall in!BETTY
screams!

BETTY

No!No!He's dead!This is all your fault!If
it weren't for you, he would still be alive!

KURTORTZ

That's
not fair.We didn't bring the
Aluminoids here!

KROZZ

Besides,
he was just an Earthman.

BETTY

Oh
no, he wasn't just an Earthman.He
was so much more!He was a hero.A noble man willing to give his life to protect the innocent.

KORA

I
am not an innocent.

BETTY

That’s
true.He was even willing to give
his life to protect a bloodthirsty homicidal maniac.I guess some people would say that he was a fool to sacrifice
his life for Kora.

KURTORTZ

I’d
say that.

BETTY

But
he was the man I loved!

STAN's
voice rises up from the crater.

STAN

(from
the crater)

Help!

BETTY

It's
Stan!!!

They
all run to the crater and pull STAN out of it.

BETTY

What
happened?

STAN

Just
a few scant feet about the bubbling aluminite, I caught on to a thin outcropping
of rock.The Aluminoids weren't so
lucky.They died a horrible dead.Holy cats, that was a close one.

BETTY

I'll
say.

TOG
regains consciousness.

TOG

Uhhh...where am I?

BETTY

It's
all right, Tog.Stan defeated the
Aluminoids, and we're all safe.

Enter
two new ALUMINOIDS (who can be played by the old Aluminoids in exactly the same
costumes).

The
ALUMINOIDS force KORA to bow.The
others quickly decide they had better bow.Once all the captives have bowed down, the ALUMINOIDS begin to hum
Wagner’s Prelude to Act III of LOHENGRIN.KORAX marches proudly into the cave.

STAN

Korax!

KURTORTZ

Your
Imperial Radiance!You are the
leader of the Aluminoids?

KORAX

Yes,
Captain Kurtortz, I control these robots.They
are my slaves who have built the weapons and solarships which are now on their
way to invade the planet Earth!

STAN

What???

KORAX

That
is correct, Earthman!While you
were wasting your time out here in the Deserts of Golumph, my invasion fleet was
launched!In a few short hours, it
will reach the Earth!

KORA

And
Kaila will have the blood of every Earthman!

KORAX

And
Kaila will have nothing!

BETTY

What
are you going to do to us?

KORAX

You
will have one more chance to become my bride!

BETTY

No!I will never marry you!Ever!

KORAX

That
is what you say now, my dear, but we shall see if my new amnesium-powered
alphatron thought-modifier can change your mind!

BETTY

Stan,
help me!

KORAX

Aluminoids!Take the Earthman and the Tangorian to the underground caverns of Corrin!Chain them to the walls, and leave them for the Gorag Monster!

BETTY

No!Not that!

The
ALUMINOIDS drag out STAN and TOG, as STAN cries out to BETTY:

STAN

Don't
worry, Betty.I'll save you....
somehow... I promise!

BETTY

(weeping)

Oh
Stan! Stan!

KORAX

Do
not waste your tears, Earthwoman!Soon
you will have forgotten he ever existed!Kurtortz!We must gather the rest of my Aluminoids and return with them to my
palace.There we shall supervise
the invasion of Earth!Come, my
child, we shall rule it together!!!

KORAX
leads BETTY offstage.They are
followed by KURTORTZ, KROZZ and KORA.Blackout.

SCENE
THIRTEEN:THE UNDERGROUND CAVERNS
OF CORRIN

We're
still using the cave set, but now it is the underground caverns of Corrin.The crater has been removed.Now
some chains and shackles are attached to the walls.There also needs to be a hidden entrance to a secret passageway.As the lights come up, STAN and TOG are brought in and chained to the
cave walls by the ALUMINOIDS.

TOG

Well,
here we are in the underground caverns of Corrin.

The
ALUMINOIDS finish chaining our heroes, and they exit.STAN struggles.

STAN

These
chains are too strong.We'll never
break out of them.

TOG

The
Gorag Monster will break them easily enough when he comes to eat us.

STAN

Holy
cats!Korax has already launched
his invasion of the Earth, he's forcing Betty to marry him, and we're chained up
here waiting to be eaten!This is
the worst fix we've ever been in!

TOG

I
don't know.I sort of liked the one
where the Bloodwomen were going to sacrifice us, and everyone thought we'd lost
our minds.

Suddenly,
there's a terrible ROAR and the GORAG MONSTER enters.Whatever GORAG looks like, he should have the best costume of
the show, because this is the last cliffhanger, and it had better be a good one.On the other hand, maybe he should look like Barney.

GORAG

AAAARRRRRRGH!

STAN

Holy
cats!

The
GORAG MONSTER attacks STAN and starts to kill him!

STAN

It's
not use!I'm finished!There's no way out!He's
killing me!

Blackout
and curtain!

Up
comes Wagner’s Prelude to Act III of LOHENGRIN.A slide is projected which reads:"CHAPTER 7.THE
WRATH OF GORAG!"The slide
dims out, the curtain opens, and the end of the last scene is re-played.

STAN

Holy
cats!

The
GORAG MONSTER attacks STAN and starts to kill him!

STAN

It's
not use!I'm finished!There's no way out!He's
killing me!

Suddenly
a secret panel opens in the walls of the cave, and KORA appears!She is holding a strangely glowing rock, which causes the GORAG MONSTER
to back away in panic.She forces the monster off-stage.

I
have risked my life coming here!If
you do not wish to accept my help, I will leave now.

STAN

Wait
a minute!I'm sorry!What's that rock you're holding?

KORA

It
is the Sacred Stone of Scorran.It's
mysterious light is the only thing the Gorag Monster fears.Let me get you out of those chains.

KORA
puts down the Sacred Stone of Scorran and she unchains STAN and TOG.

STAN

Thanks
Kora!

KORA

There
is no time for gratitude now.Your
friend Betty is in terrible danger!I
will explain on the way!

KORA
leads STAN and TOG into the secret passageway, which closes behind them.But KORA has forgotten the Sacred Stone! GORAG
re-enters.He sees the Stone, and backs against the cave wall in panic.He accidentally triggers the mechanism which opens the secret passageway.Grunting with curiosity, GORAG enters the secret passageway!Blackout!

SCENE
FOURTEEN:KORA'S SECRET PASSAGEWAY

The
lights come up inside the secret passageway.Enter KORA, STAN and TOG.

STAN

How
far is it to the palace, Kora?

KORA

We
are under the Great Garovian Swamp!We
still have a way to go.

TOG

You
still haven't told us why we should trust you!

KORA

Because
the Earthwoman's life is at stake!After
you were taken away, Korax took the rest of his Aluminoids, and rocketed with us
back to his palace.The moment we
arrived, he went to his atomic-radiosoniscopic tower to give long distance
orders to his invasion fleet.He left the Earthwoman in the throne room and posted
Aluminoids outside all the doors so that she could not escape.

STAN

And
you?

KORA

I
chose to stay and speak with the Earthwoman.I asked her why she wept.Didn't
she want to marry an Emperor?She
asked what would happen to you.I
said you would be eaten.She said,
"No!Not Stan!"And I said, "Why not Stan?Why shouldn't he die?"And
she said, "Because I love him.".....

KORA's
voice fades out as the lights dim out.STAN
and TOG exit in the darkness.The
scene changes, and the lights come up on the throne room.

SCENE
FIFTEEN:KORAX'S THRONE ROOM

In
the throne room, KORA is talking to BETTY, who is weeping.

KORA

Why
do you weep, Earthwoman.Don't you
want to marry an Emperor?

BETTY

What
will happen to Stan?

KORA

He
will be eaten.

BETTY

No,
not Stan!

KORA

Why
not Stan?Why shouldn't he die?

BETTY

Because
I love him!Haven't you ever been
in love, Kora?

KORA

Never!I swore I would never love any man after I saw what love did to my
mother!

BETTY

What
are you talking about?

KORA

My
mother was a High Priestess of Kaila, before my father fell in love with her and
forced her to marry him.She spent
the rest of her life in misery, and all because of love!

BETTY

No,
Kora, not love.What your father
felt for your mother, and what Korax feels for me, that's only empty, hollow
lust.Real love makes people happy.

KORA

Happiness!This is as fleeting as life itself.Death alone is constant!Death
alone is eternal.

BETTY

But
Kora, you have to live before you can die!Before every death, there is life!And
the greatest thing in life is being in love.

KORA

Your
words have touched me, Earthwoman.There
is a way in which I might yet saved your beloved.The only thing the Gorag Monster fears is the Sacred Stone of Scorran.I might be able to get it in time.

KORA
opens the entrance to another secret passageway (i.e., not the one leading to
the walls of doom).

KORA

Korax
is not the only one with secret passageways.

BETTY

Let
me come too!

KORA

No.I can go faster alone.

BETTY

Then
hurry, please!

KORA

I
pray I am not too late!

KORA
exits into her secret passageway as the lights go out.

SCENE
SIXTEEN:KORA'S SECRET PASSAGEWAY

The
lights come back up in the secret passageway.KORA is finishing her story, and STAN is listening, but TOG is gone!

It's
true, Kora!Ever since I saw you
stand up to those Aluminoids!You
were so courageous.I fell in love
with you on the spot!

KORA

Oh,
Kurtortz!

KURTORTZ

Korax,
if you are going to kill Kora, you'll have to kill me too!

KORAX

Very
well.Earthman, kill them all!

STAN
aims his gun at BETTY, KURTORTZ and KORA.He
is about to fire, when suddenly the GORAG MONSTER bursts through the entrance to
KORA's secret passageway.

GORAG

AAAARRRRRGH!

GORAG
lurches for KORAX.KORAX tries
vainly to use the alphatron thought-modifier on GORAG, but GORAG's thoughts are
too primitive to be modified.As
soon as KORAX turns the thought-modifier away from STAN and on to GORAG, STAN
lowers his ray gun, but he remains in a trance.

Two
Aluminoids march in mechanically.They
manage to pull GORAG away from KORAX.GORAG
breaks away from the ALUMINOIDS and turns on BETTY.

KORAX

Good!Good!He is going to kill
the girl!

GORAG
begins to strangle BETTY.

BETTY

Stan!Help me, Stan!

Seeing
BETTY in peril finally brings STAN out of the trance!

STAN

Betty!

STAN
shoots GORAG again and again with the death ray ato-gun.GORAG releases BETTYand
then does a big, hammy death scene.

BETTY

Gee,
he wasn't so tough.

KORAX

Aluminoids!Kill them all!

The
two ALUMINOIDS start to strangle STAN, BETTY, KURTORTZ and KORA.(Each ALUMINOID has one neck in each hand.)

KORAX

I
have you now, Earthman!You are
finished!Nothing can save you!

TOG
enters through KORA's secret passageway.

TOG

Wrong
again, Korax!While going through
the secret passageway, I came across my friendly Alligator-Men who had been
searching everywhere for me!Alligator-Men
to the rescue!

Two
ALLIGATOR-MEN charge through the secret passageway entrance.They attack the two ALUMINOIDS, freeing STAN, BETTY, KORA and KURTORTZ,
who join in the fight.The
ALUMINOIDS fall to the onslaught.KORAX
tries to escape, but TOG grabs the death ray ato-gun (which STAN had dropped
when he was attacked by an ALUMINOID), and TOG aims it at KORAX.

TOG

Hold
it right there, Korax!

KORAX
stands still, and the two ALLIGATOR-MEN guard him!

STAN

Where
am I?

KURTORTZ

Easy,
Earthman!You are still recovering
from the effects of the alphatron thought-modifier.

STAN

What
happened?

BETTY

We
won!

STAN

Hooray!

KORA

Captain,
Kurtortz, did you mean what you said about being in love with me?

KURTORTZ

Yes,
Kora, I did.Oh, I know you could
never return my love.You believe
only in death.But I will always
love you, until the day I die!

KORA

Oh,
Kurtortz, I don't believe in death anymore!I believe in love too!

KURTORTZ
and KORA embrace.KLONG enters,
starting to speak before he sees what is happening.

STAN
grabs the alphatron thought-modifier and turns it on KLONG, who immediately goes
into a trance.

STAN

Listen
to me, Klong!The days of Korax's
evil rule are over for good!I want
you and Captain Kurtortz to go to the radiosoniscopic tower and tell the
solarships to return to Yorong!The
invasion of Earth is canceled!

KLONG

Yes,
Earthman!

STAN

Then
tell all the guards that until free and independent elections can be held, Kora
and Captain Kurtortz will be the new rules of Yorong!

KLONG

Yes,
Earthman.I will do as you say.

KURTORTZ

Don't
worry, Stan.I'll stop the
invasion!

STAN

I
know you will, Kurtortz!

STAN
and KURTORTZ shake hands.Then
KLONG and KURTORTZ exit.

STAN

I
guess love won out after all.

KORAX

You
haven't won yet, Earthman.Not
while I live!

KORAX
takes a hidden knife out of his sleeve and stabs the nearest ALLIGATOR-MAN.Then he runs over to KORA and grabs her as a hostage.With his knife at her throat, he moves over to the entrance to his own
secret passageway.He opens the
entrance as STAN, BETTY and TOG look on hopelessly.

KORAX

Now,
Sister, here is a sacrifice for your goddess!

KORAX
stabs KORA!KORA screams and falls
to the floor.KORAX runs out
through his secret passageway, and STAN runs after him in hot pursuit.Blackout!

SCENE
EIGHTEEN:BETWEEN THE WALLS OF DOOM

The
walls of doom are brought on.The
lights come up as KORAX starts to enter through the door of the stage left wall.STAN grabs him, but KORAX shakes him off, pushes him out, and slams the
door shut.The walls of doom begin to move slowly together.KORAX searches his costume for his frajistatz, but cannot find it.

KORAX

My
frajistatz!Where is my frajistatz!No!I gave it to Kurtortz,
and he never gave it back!Almighty
gods of Yorong, can this be the end of KORAX????

The
walls of doom close in on him as KORAX screams in pain and terror.Blackout!In the darkness,
we hear a sickening, crunching sound.The
walls of doom re taken offstage during the blackout.

SCENE
NINETEEN:KORAX'S THRONE ROOM

The
lights come up on the throne room.KORA
is seated on the throne, and BETTY is bandaging her arm, as KURTORTZ and TOG
watch.Everyone else has left the
stage.STAN enters through the
entrance to KORAX's secret passageway.

STAN

Kora?

BETTY

She's
all right.It was just a flesh
wound.Where's Korax?

STAN

Dead.Crushed to death between his own walls of doom.

Enter
KLONG, still in a trance.

KLONG

The
invasion of Earth has been canceled, and all the guards have been told that Kora
and Kurtortz will lead them.

KORA

Heed
me, Klong!These are my orders:First, all of Korax's prisoners shall be freed!Then, all the money in the treasury shall be used to clothe and feed the
poor.And lastly, you and your men shall go out and tear down all
of Kaila's temples.Announce to the
people of Yorong that from now on, we are worshippers of life and love!

KLONG

Yes,
your Imperial Radiessence!

KLONG
exits.

BETTY

Oh,
Kora, how wonderful!

STAN

Yes,
it is.But now, Kora, if you don't
mind, Betty and I should be getting back to Earth.

TOG

And
I want to return to Tangor!

KORA

I
shall order a fleet of our finest solarships to escort you back to your native
planets.You'll be home within the
hour!And your names shall be
inscribed on the eternal tablets of Gor-done as Yorong's greatest heroes.

STAN

Oh,
it was nothing!

BETTY
gives STAN a kiss on the cheek.

KORA

Actually, there’s one tiny problem.

STAN

Oh?

KORA

We did call off the invasion of Earth!

KURTORTZ

We did!

KORA

But
one of the our captains too eager, and…

KURTORTZ

Well….

KORA

I’m
afraid we conquered downtown Detroit.
But you can have it back.

STAN

Oh,
that’s all right.

BETTY

Sure.What’s Detroit among friends?

Wagner’s
Prelude To Act III Of LOHENGRIN comes up for the final time.Blackout and curtain.A
slide is projected which reads:"THE
END."

The
author grants all internet uses to print these scripts for their own,
personal, non-commercial use. No other use may be made without the
author's permission. Without limiting the
foregoing, the plays may not be staged without the author's express
permission.